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en-usTue, 03 Mar 2015 16:16:53 -0500Tue, 03 Mar 2015 16:16:53 -0500The latest news on The Aviationist from Business Insiderhttp://static3.businessinsider.com/assets/images/bilogo-250x36-wide-rev.pngBusiness Insiderhttp://www.businessinsider.com
http://www.businessinsider.com/iran-overhaulw-last-active-f-14-fleet-photos-2015-3Iran is overhauling the world's last active F-14 fleethttp://www.businessinsider.com/iran-overhaulw-last-active-f-14-fleet-photos-2015-3
Mon, 02 Mar 2015 12:10:51 -0500David Cenciotti
<p><img src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/54f475976bb3f7482694bcd8-706-492/f-14-iriaf-overhauled-1.jpg" border="0" alt="F 14 IRIAF overhauled 1" style="color: #000000;"></p><p></p>
<p>The Iranian Air Force is the last operator of the legendary F-14 Tomcat.</p>
<p>These photos were recently released by Iran's FARS News Agency.</p>
<p><img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/54f47597eab8ea974e6d991b-706-492/f-14-iriaf-overhauled-2-706x492.jpg" border="0" alt="F 14 IRIAF overhauled 2 706x492"></p>
<p>They show Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force F-14 Tomcat jets being overhauled at an unspecified location.</p>
<p><img src="http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/54f47597ecad0489437c881b-706-492/f-14-iriaf-overhauled-top-706x492.jpg" border="0" alt="F 14 IRIAF overhauled top 706x492" style="color: #000000;"></p>
<p><a href="http://theaviationist.com/2012/03/16/how-iriaf-f-14-tomcats-could-be-effectively-used-in-combat-against-israeli-or-u-s-planes-or-drones/" target="_blank" title="How IRIAF F-14 Tomcats could be (effectively) used in combat against Israeli or U.S. planes or drones">Iran still operates Tomcats</a> that are being modernized to the F-14AM (“Modernized”) standard in order to extend their operative life until 2030. Domestic upgrades include avionics (radar and RWR) and <a href="http://theaviationist.com/2012/03/26/iriaf-f14/" target="_blank" title="Video: Iranian F-14 Tomcats on combat patrol. Unarmed.">weapons:</a> R-73E, AIM-54A, AIM-7E and AIM-9J are among the air-to-air missiles adapted to the aircraft’s fire control system.</p>
<p><img src="http://static6.businessinsider.com/image/54f47597eab8ea194d6d991a-706-492/f-14-iriaf-overhauled-3-706x492.jpg" border="0" alt="F 14 IRIAF overhauled 3 706x492" style="color: #000000;"></p>
<p>The Iranian Tomcats can also carry the <a href="http://theaviationist.com/2013/09/26/farouk-missile/" title="Iranian F-14 Tomcat’s “new” indigenous air-to-air missile is actually an (improved?) AIM-54 Phoenix replica">AIM-54A+ “Fakour-90” missile</a>: a domestically upgraded, partially reverse-engineered version of the famous AIM-54 Phoenix long range missile of&nbsp;<a href="http://theaviationist.com/2013/08/19/tomcats-2-libya-0/" target="_blank" title="How two U.S. Navy F-14 Tomcats shot down two Gaddafi’s Su-22 Fitters, 32 years ago today">US Navy F-14s.</a></p>
<p><img src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/54f47597eab8ea41506d9918-706-492/f-14-iriaf-overhauled-4-706x492.jpg" border="0" alt="F 14 IRIAF overhauled 4 706x492" style="color: #000000;"></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">The IRIAF F-14s are also being given a </span><a href="http://theaviationist.com/2014/02/21/new-photo-splinter-iriaf-tomcat/" title="Iranian F-14 Tomcat in “splinter” color scheme appears at Isfahan Open Day">three-tone Asian Minor II camouflage pattern</a><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"> loosely resembling the “splintered” one adopted by </span><a href="http://theaviationist.com/2012/02/05/splinter-su35/" target="_blank" title="New Nellis Aggressors F-15′s &quot;splinter&quot; color scheme inspired by Sukhoi Su-35S (and PAK-FA) camouflage">Russian 4th and 5th generation fighter</a><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"> planes and </span><a href="http://theaviationist.com/2012/02/05/red-air/" target="_blank" title="Nellis Aggressors' F-15 in new &quot;splinter&quot; color scheme at Red Flag 12-2">US Aggressors.</a></p>
<p><img src="http://static6.businessinsider.com/image/54f475976bb3f7022594bcd9-706-492/f-14-iriaf-overhauled-5-706x492.jpg" border="0" alt="F 14 IRIAF overhauled 5 706x492" style="color: #000000;"></p>
<p><a href="http://theaviationist.com/2013/02/11/shah-tomcat/" title="Thirty minutes to choose your fighter jet: how the Shah of Iran chose the F-14 Tomcat over the F-15 Eagle">Tehran is believed to operate a fleet of about 60 F-14s</a><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"> even if its number of combat-capable aircraft is unknown. There could be plans to use the Tomcat in the air-to-ground role as well.</span></p>
<p><img src="http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/54f475976bb3f73f2694bcd6-706-492/f-14-iriaf-overhauled-6-706x492.jpg" border="0" alt="F 14 IRIAF overhauled 6 706x492" style="color: #000000;"></p>
<p>One way or another, Tehran managed to keep the <a href="http://theaviationist.com/2012/03/26/iriaf-f14/" target="_blank" title="Video: Iranian F-14 Tomcats on combat patrol. Unarmed.">F-14s airworthy</a>, a significant achievement considering the UN&nbsp;<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">arms embargo on Iran and the consequent lack of spare parts for the </span><a href="http://theaviationist.com/2012/03/16/how-iriaf-f-14-tomcats-could-be-effectively-used-in-combat-against-israeli-or-u-s-planes-or-drones/" target="_blank" title="How IRIAF F-14 Tomcats could be (effectively) used in combat against Israeli or U.S. planes or drones">Tomcats</a><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">.</span></p>
<p><img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/54f4759769beddc97ee84a6b-706-492/f-14-iriaf-overhauled-7-706x492.jpg" border="0" alt="F 14 IRIAF overhauled 7 706x492" style="color: #000000;"></p><p><strong>SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/this-plane-is-the-face-of-salvation-when-youre-outgunned-in-the-us-army-2015-2" >This plane is the face of salvation when you're outgunned in the US Army</a></strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/iran-overhaulw-last-active-f-14-fleet-photos-2015-3#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> <p>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/iphone-headphones-tricks-2015-2">14 things you didn't know your iPhone headphones could do</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/watch-a-british-phantom-intercept-a-soviet-plane-in-the-1970s-2015-2Watch a British Phantom intercept a Soviet warplane in the 1970shttp://www.businessinsider.com/watch-a-british-phantom-intercept-a-soviet-plane-in-the-1970s-2015-2
Mon, 23 Feb 2015 18:07:01 -0500David Cenciotti
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/54eba0a36bb3f7a10785da71-800-600/raf-british-jet-intercepts-soviet-bomber.png" border="0" alt="RAF British jet intercepts Soviet bomber"></p><p>Last week, UK’s air defense was once again put to the test by two Russian strategic bombers that flew off Cornwall during a routine long-range patrol over northern Europe.</p>
<p>The two Bear H aircraft were intercepted and shadowed by two Royal Air Force Typhoons: a pretty standard practice since the Cold War, in the UK and the rest of Europe.</p>
<p>The following footage, shows the UK Quick Reaction Alert at work against possible Soviet threat 45 years ago.</p>
<p>At that time, the Royal Air Force interceptor was the mighty F-4 Phantom.</p>
<p>According to the user who uploaded the footage to YouTube, the video shows scenes shot RAF Wattisham, involving the Southern QRA.</p>
<p><img src="http://static5.businessinsider.com/image/54eba0d069bedd4a7e85da71-800-604/raf british jet pilots scramble.png" border="0" alt="RAF British jet pilots scramble"></p>
<p>A commenter says the footage comes from a RAF recruiting film titled “Intercept” which was filmed at several locations across the British Isles to cover the whole UK Air Defence System and RAF units that supported it.</p>
<p>Anyway, enjoy a few minutes of cool Phantom Phootage!</p>
<p><iframe width="854" height="510" frameborder="0" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9D2wacVbk3A"></iframe></p><p><strong>SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/listen-to-russian-strategic-bombers-speaking-in-code-over-uk-airspace-2015-2" >Listen to Russian strategic bombers speaking in code over UK airspace</a></strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/watch-a-british-phantom-intercept-a-soviet-plane-in-the-1970s-2015-2#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> <p>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/land-plane-emergency-2014-3">How To Land A Plane If The Pilot Has A Heart Attack</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/listen-to-russian-strategic-bombers-speaking-in-code-over-uk-airspace-2015-2Listen to Russian strategic bombers speaking in code over UK airspacehttp://www.businessinsider.com/listen-to-russian-strategic-bombers-speaking-in-code-over-uk-airspace-2015-2
Fri, 20 Feb 2015 09:06:00 -0500David Cenciotti
<p><img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/54e5d1136da811d97399a7eb-1200-800/rtx96mx.jpg" border="0" alt="Russian Tu-95 bombers"></p><p>On Feb. 18,<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/russian-bombers-intercepted-near-british-airspace-2015-2" target="_blank"> two Russian Air Force&nbsp;Tu-95MS Bear bombers</a>&nbsp;on a long-range patrol flew close to the UK airspace off Cornwall.</p>
<p>Although the 60-year old 4-engine powered turboprop planes remained in international airspace, they were shadowed by two&nbsp;<a href="http://theaviationist.com/2014/10/31/tu-95-as-seen-from-typhoon/" title="Here are the photos of the Russian Tu-95 Bear bombers intercepted by RAF Typhoon jets">RAF Typhoons in QRA (Quick Reaction Alert)</a>: something that is becoming a sort of routine considered the frequency of&nbsp;<a href="http://theaviationist.com/2015/02/19/video-inside-tu-95-bear/" title="[Video] Russian strategic bomber films British and French jets escorting it">such Russian missions over northern Europe.</a></p>
<p>Noteworthy, as the Bear H aircraft flew close to UK, Tom Hill, a radio enthusiast and reader of The Aviationist, using an HF receiver, recorded the following 6-minute audio.</p>
<p>It’s a coded message believed to be a message passed by the Tu-95 to a female controller on the Russian Air Force Strategic HF Voice net.</p>
<p>Interestingly, according to one of our sources, for the first time in several months, the entire Bear mission on Feb. 18 was supported by a Russian airborne command and control aircraft: the Ilyushin Il-80 (NATO reporting name “Maxdome”).</p>
<h3>Here is the audio recording:</h3>
<p><iframe width="100%" height="600" frameborder="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/191818774&amp;auto_play=false&amp;hide_related=false&amp;show_comments=true&amp;show_user=true&amp;show_reposts=false&amp;visual=true"></iframe></p><p><strong>SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/david-cenciotti-russian-bomber-interception-by-british-french-jets-2015-2" >Here's footage from inside a Russian bomber as British and French jets intercept it</a></strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/listen-to-russian-strategic-bombers-speaking-in-code-over-uk-airspace-2015-2#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> <p>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/iphone-headphones-tricks-2015-2">14 things you didn't know your iPhone headphones could do</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/david-cenciotti-russian-bomber-interception-by-british-french-jets-2015-2Here's footage from inside a Russian bomber as British and French jets intercept ithttp://www.businessinsider.com/david-cenciotti-russian-bomber-interception-by-british-french-jets-2015-2
Thu, 19 Feb 2015 10:24:23 -0500David Cenciotti
<p><em><strong><img src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/54e5fce2eab8eab8677a93df-1200-600/french-jet-shadowing-russian-bomber.png" border="0" alt="French jet shadowing Russian bomber"><br></strong></em></p>
<p>Here is an interesting video filmed from inside a <a href="http://theaviationist.com/2015/02/15/bear-contra-rotating-blades/">Tu-95 Bear</a> escorted by Royal Air Force Typhoons and French Air Force Mirage 2000s during one of the <a href="http://theaviationist.com/2014/04/25/raf-releases-photo-bear/">recent missions</a> of the Russian Air Force strategic bombers in northern Europe.</p>
<p><img src="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/54e5fd216bb3f7f42cb6c78c-1200-600/russian-bomber-nato-escort.png" border="0" alt="Russian bomber NATO escort"></p>
<p>Even though RAF jets <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/russian-bombers-intercepted-near-british-airspace-2015-2">were scrambled</a> on February 18 to intercept two Tu-95MS bombers off the Cornwall coast, the following footage was probably <a href="http://theaviationist.com/2015/01/29/tu-95-uk-disruption/">filmed on January 29</a>, when two Bears, accompanied by Mig-31 Foxhound long-range interceptors, were refueled twice by Il-78 Midas aerial refuelers and were intercepted and escorted by RAF Typhoons, Norwegian F-16s and French Mirage 2000s at various stages of their trip.</p>
<p>The video briefly shows an armed French Mirage shadowing the <a href="http://theaviationist.com/2014/10/31/tu-95-as-seen-from-typhoon/">Russian Bear</a>.</p>
<p>You can view the footage below.</p>
<center><iframe width="853" height="640" frameborder="0" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TnZMy1WWjZs"></iframe></center><p><strong>SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/russias-anti-aircraft-artillery-system-in-ukraine-2015-2" >UK: Russia's most advanced anti-aircraft artillery system is being used in Ukraine</a></strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/david-cenciotti-russian-bomber-interception-by-british-french-jets-2015-2#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> <p>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/iphone-headphones-tricks-2015-2">14 things you didn't know your iPhone headphones could do</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/the-story-of-one-of-the-largest-air-strikes-against-saddam-2015-2The story of one of the largest airstrikes carried out against Saddam Hussein between the Gulf War and the Iraq Invasionhttp://www.businessinsider.com/the-story-of-one-of-the-largest-air-strikes-against-saddam-2015-2
Tue, 17 Feb 2015 16:46:00 -0500Dario Leone
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/54e38f0769bedd4c41c66d1d-1200-800/f18%20hornet%20uss%20john%20stennis%20brightened%20with%20pixlr.jpg" border="0" alt="F18 Hornet USS John Stennis brightened with pixlr"></p><p></p>
<p><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 1.5em;">Following the end of the Gulf War in 1991, two different operations were conducted <span>to enforce the no fly zone (NFZ) that was set to narrow Iraqi government airspace</span>: the Northern Watch, which started in 1997 and became Operation Provide Comfort, to monitor the airspace above the 36th parallel; and the Southern Watch, that began in 1992, to control the airspace south of the 32nd parallel, extended to the 33rd parallel in 1996.</span></p>
<p>Saddam Hussein's regime soon decided not to respect the no-fly zone, and Iraqi air defense systems began to attack both Northern and Southern Watch aircraft, even though the Surface to Air Missile (SAM) sites were more active against Southern forces. Many no-fly zone violations occurred after 1992, with Iraqi fighters crossing the zone several times.</p>
<p>Nevertheless the main threat to the allied aircraft was posed by the Iraqi SAM and anti-aircraft artillery batteries. Those soon became the target of several air strikes, like the ones conducted during Operation Desert Fox in 1998 and the powerful raid conducted by Joint Task Forces Southwest Asia, on Feb. 16, 2001.</p>
<p>As explained by the US Marine Corps historian Fred Allison to Giampaolo Agostinelli for his book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Where-Sea-Meets-Giampaolo-Agostinelli/dp/0954219104">Where Sea Meets The Sky</a>, about 70 aircraft were involved in this air strike, and a quarter of those released weapons.</p>
<p>Among the strike aircraft which took part in the mission were eight US Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles and an element of Royal Air Force Tornado GR1s from bases in Kuwait, with fourteen F/A-18s belonging to Marine Strike Fighter Squadron 312 (VMFA-312) Checkerboards and Strike Fighter Squadron 105 (VFA-105) Gunslingers launched from the aircraft carrier USS Truman (CVN-75).</p>
<p>The strike was supported by E-2Cs in an AWACS role, S-3Bs and KC-10s for air-to-air refueling and EA-6Bs for electronic warfare. The escort for the strike force was provided by VF-32 Swordsmen F-14B Tomcats and by USAF F-15C Eagles.</p>
<p><img src="http://static6.businessinsider.com/image/50b5359beab8eab60e00002e-1200-667/aircraft.jpg" border="0" alt="Aircraft Carrier Style">Some of the targets — radars, communications centers and command centers — were placed north of Baghdad. To hit them the Hornets were loaded with external tanks, 200 rounds of 20 mm ammunition combined with AIM-120 and AIM-9 air-to-air missiles for self-defense and two types of standoff weapons: three AGM-154 Joint Stand-Off Weapons (JSOWs) for each VMFA-312’s jet and Standoff Land-Attack Missile – Expanded Response (SLAM-ER) missiles for VFA-105’s F/A-18s.</p>
<p>The mission was launched after sunset. The Hornets refueled from an Air Force KC-10 tanker over Kuwait. The F/A-18s were the last aircraft to reach their targets over Baghdad, with the Iraqi gunners already alerted from the previous strikes: their first Gunslinger jets launched their SLAM-ERs which hit their targets with great accuracy.</p>
<p>This accuracy was demonstrated by footage sent back by one aircraft that hit Al-Taji air base. When slowed down, it showed a man outside the building smoking a cigarette.</p>
<p>Then, Checkerboards Hornets delivered their JSOWs from 36,000 feet while the sky was erupting “into a blaze of AAA and SAMs.”</p>
<p>But in the rarefied air at FL360, the F/A-18s were too slow to maneuver away from the SAMs. So they lit the burners for a steep dive, descending into the thicker air where the pilots could maneuver more effectively against the surface-to-air missiles.</p>
<p>In addition to the SAMs launches, the Hornets' pilots were notified that a MiG-23 Flogger had taken off from Al-Taqaddum airfield below them. Luckily for them the MiG escaped immediately towards the north.</p>
<p><img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/511e1dbdeab8ea9146000002-1200-600/screen-shot-2013-02-15-at-6.11.58-am.jpg" border="0" alt="F-18 Super Hornet Cockpit">With the afterburners still ignited, the Hornets avoided the last Iraqi SAMs and reached the tanker on a racetrack on the border of Kuwait. Suddenly a British voice came over to the radio: a Tornado was being targeted by a SA-6 which was receiving good tracking information from its radar.</p>
<p>Three seconds later another voice radioed: “Magnum!”: a VAQ-130 (Electronic Attack Squadron 130) Zappers EA-6B pilot had just launched an AGM-88 HARM missile which destroyed the Iraqi SAM site.</p>
<p>The mission ended after the safe recovery of the aircraft onboard the Truman’s deck.</p>
<p>As Allison recalls: “The mission had lasted slightly more than four hours and had accomplished its purpose. The Iraqis shut down their radars and there were less attacks on coalition aircraft over the NFZ, at least for a time.”</p><p><strong>SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/watch-us-f-22-stealth-jets-refuel-on-their-way-to-strike-isis-in-iraq-2015-2" >Watch US-F22s refuel on their way to strike ISIS in Iraq</a></strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/the-story-of-one-of-the-largest-air-strikes-against-saddam-2015-2#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> <p>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/sneeze-particles-movement-airplane-cabin-2014-11">Here's How A Sneeze Spreads Through An Airplane Cabin</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/watch-us-f-22-stealth-jets-refuel-on-their-way-to-strike-isis-in-iraq-2015-2Watch US F-22 stealth jets refuel on their way to strike ISIS in Iraqhttp://www.businessinsider.com/watch-us-f-22-stealth-jets-refuel-on-their-way-to-strike-isis-in-iraq-2015-2
Mon, 16 Feb 2015 08:07:28 -0500David Cenciotti
<p><img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/54e1eb1169bedd882d9bed67-800-581/f-22-ty-refules.jpg" border="0" alt="F 22 TY refules"></p><p></p>
<p>The following footage was shot on Jan. 30, 2015.</p>
<p>It shows <a href="http://theaviationist.com/2014/09/23/f-22-debut-over-syria/" title="All you need to know about U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptors baptism of fire over Syria">F-22s</a> belonging to 95th FS from Tyndall Air Force Base refuel over the Persian Gulf from a U.S. Air Force KC-135 while participating in a coalition air strike on a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Car_bomb" target="_blank" title="Car bomb" class="zem_slink" rel="wikipedia">Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Device</a> factory.</p>
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<iframe width="800" height="550" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/_wy9SVE60J0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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<p class="embed-spacer"></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5em;">Along with SEAD (Suppression of Enemy Air Defense) platforms the Raptor stealth fighters are now embedded in standard coalition strike packages as </span><a href="http://theaviationist.com/2015/02/10/f-22-escorted-rjaf-jets/" title="U.S. F-22 EW-enabled sensor-rich stealth aircraft have escorted Jordanian F-16s during air strikes on ISIS">“electronic warfare enabled sensor-rich multi-role aircraft”</a><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5em;">: they can enter a target area, gather details about the enemy systems with their extremely advanced onboard sensors (including an </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Active_electronically_scanned_array" target="_blank" title="Active electronically scanned array" class="zem_slink" rel="wikipedia">Active Electronically Scanned Array</a><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5em;"> – AESA radar), share the picture and enemy information </span><a href="http://theaviationist.com/2014/09/24/f-15e-over-syria/" title="F-15E Strike Eagles took part in the first air strikes in Syria along with stealth F-22 Raptor Jets">with other tactical assets</a><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5em;">, command and control planes and AWACS, escort other unstealthy planes or drones towards the targets taking care of any air threat and even attack their own targets with PGMs.</span></p>
<p><em>Top image credit: U.S. Air Force</em></p><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/watch-us-f-22-stealth-jets-refuel-on-their-way-to-strike-isis-in-iraq-2015-2#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> <p>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/iphone-headphones-tricks-2015-2">14 things you didn't know your iPhone headphones could do</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/david-cenciotti-cockpit-footage-of-pilots-on-bombing-training-mission-2015-2Amazing cockpit footage shows Brazilian pilots flying a bombing training missionhttp://www.businessinsider.com/david-cenciotti-cockpit-footage-of-pilots-on-bombing-training-mission-2015-2
Thu, 12 Feb 2015 16:43:11 -0500David Cenciotti
<p>Laser Guided Bombs, attack runs, and some low level flying feature in an incredible video starring Brazilian Air Force A-1 light attack jets.</p>
<p><img src="http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/54dd1b166bb3f7596cf2e9cd/roll.gif" border="0" alt="Brazil Air Force" style="color: #000000;"></p>
<p>Known locally as “A-1″, the <a href="http://theaviationist.com/2013/06/05/amx-200k/" title="Italian AMX fighter bomber fleet reaches 200,000 flying hours">AMX light attack aircraft</a> is the backbone of the Força Aérea Brasileira.</p>
<p><img src="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/54dd1b1669bedda56676731b/peace.gif" border="0" alt="Brazil Air Force" style="color: #000000;"></p>
<p>The Brazilian Air Force operates about 50 such aircraft, based at Santa Cruz, near Rio de Janeiro. At Santa Maria, to the west of Porto Alegre, the Air Force fields an upgraded A-1M variant that features a glass cockpit, advanced avionics, a Mectron SCP-01 Scipio radar, Embraer BR2 data link, Forward Looking Infra-Red, and support for the<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helmet_mounted_display" title="Helmet mounted display" class="mw-redirect"> DASH IV helmet mounted display</a>.</p>
<p><img src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/54dd1b16ecad047547b062ea/low flying.gif" border="0" alt="Brazil Air Force" style="color: #000000;"></p>
<p>The aircraft in the video is flying with the 1 Esquadrão/16 Grupo de Aviação Esquadrão “Adelphi” 1 Esquadrão/10 Grupo de Aviação Esquadrão “Poker” and 3 Esquadrão/10 Grupo de aviação Esquadrão&nbsp;<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">“Centauro”.</span></p>
<p><img src="http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/54dd1b16ecad047347b062e8/missile release.gif" border="0" alt="Brazil Air Force" style="color: #000000;"></p>
<p>The A-1s are used in the air-to-surface as well as the reconnaissance role. These are the the same kind of missions flown by the aircraft within the <a href="http://theaviationist.com/2013/06/05/amx-200k/" title="Italian AMX fighter bomber fleet reaches 200,000 flying hours">Italian Air Force</a>. It&nbsp;has been used by the Italians in combat during <a href="http://theaviationist.com/special-reports/ghibli-italys-amx/" title="Ghibli – Italy's AMX">Allied Force in Kosovo</a>, during <a href="http://theaviationist.com/2011/06/28/italy-is-ready-to-use-the-new-predator-b-mq-9-reaper-drones-in-libya-to-improve-nato-isr-capabilities/" title="Italy is ready to use the new Predator B (MQ-9 Reaper) drones in Libya to improve NATO ISR capabilities">Operation Unified Protector in Libya</a>, and in support of <a href="http://theaviationist.com/2012/01/28/cleared-hot/" title="&quot;Cleared hot&quot;: the Italian AMX light combat planes to be cleared to carry (and use) bombs in Afghanistan">ISAF in Afghanistan.</a></p>
<p><img src="http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/54dd1b166da8119944af7fad/smooth flying.gif" border="0" alt="Brazil Air Force" style="color: #000000;"></p>
<p>Along with the <a href="http://theaviationist.com/2014/07/13/world-cup-security-f-5/" title="Brazilian Air Force F-5 Tiger jets will ensure World Cup 2014 final’s security">F-5s</a>, the A-1s will be replaced by the <a href="http://theaviationist.com/2013/12/18/gripen-has-won-in-brazil/" title="SAAB Gripen wins Brazil fighter jet bid. Boeing Super Hornet victim of NSA scandal?">Brazil’s JAS-39E/F multi-role fighters.<br> </a><br> The following footage shows the Brazilian AMXs during training activities on the range.</p>
<center><iframe width="853" height="480" frameborder="0" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MyOfcv4yg_c"></iframe></center><p><strong>SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/fighter-pilot-video-2014-4" >Navy fighter pilots made this awesome GoPro video of their supersonic maneuvers</a></strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/david-cenciotti-cockpit-footage-of-pilots-on-bombing-training-mission-2015-2#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> <p>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/why-men-cheat-affair-love-sex-psychotherapist-2015-1">Research Reveals Why Men Cheat, And It's Not What You Think</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/the-us-is-redeploying-a-10s-to-europe-2015-2The US is redeploying A-10s to Europehttp://www.businessinsider.com/the-us-is-redeploying-a-10s-to-europe-2015-2
Wed, 11 Feb 2015 10:26:00 -0500David Cenciotti
<p><em><strong><img style="float:right;" src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/53f4d805ecad04a10af7d186-909-681/a-10-afghanistan.jpg" border="0" alt="A-10 Afghanistan"></strong></em></p>
<p>The US Air Force has deployed 12 A-10 Thunderbolt attack planes and approximately 300 personnel to Spangdahlem airbase, in Germany, as part of a so-called theater security package (TSP) in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve.</p>
<p>The aircraft are from the 355th Fighter Wing, Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona, and are expected to be ready to fulfill the TSP mission by the end of the month.</p>
<p>TSPs are meant to augment US Air Force in Europe support to Operation Atlantic Resolve, “the demonstration of US European Command and United States Air Forces in Europe’s continued commitment to the collective security of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and dedication to the enduring peace and stability in the region.”</p>
<p>The A-10 was designed to attack Soviet tanks during a possible Soviet invasion across the German plain and the Fulda Gap and were part of the AirLand Battle Doctrine pursued in the late 1970s/ early 1980s. An eventual involvement in a (proxy or direct) war with Russia is quite unlikely these days.</p>
<p>Therefore, the Warthog's return to Europe after the last permanent unit was withdrawn in 2013 is symbolic. The A-10 is more suitable for other scenarios, like Afghanistan or Iraq.</p>
<p>By rotating A-10s and other assets to Europe, Washington flexes its muscles amidst growing tensions with Moscow. Officially, 6-month TSPs enable joint training among NATO units. But they are another way to increase America's presence in Europe and reassure regional allies.</p>
<p>After an initial period at the airbase in Germany, the first TSP and its A-10s will forward deploy to some unspecified locations in Eastern European NATO nations.</p>
<p>According to the Air Force, TSPs have conducted similar activities in the Pacific area since 2004.</p>
<p><em>Jacek Siminski has contributed to this post.</em></p><p><strong>SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/the-warthog-is-the-best-close-air-support-aircraft-2015-2" >Here’s why the A-10 Warthog is one of the all-time great combat aircraft</a></strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/the-us-is-redeploying-a-10s-to-europe-2015-2#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> <p>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/flying-car-aeromobil-flies-430-miles-2014-12">This Flying Car Is Real And It Can Fly 430 Miles On A Full Tank</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/david-cenciotti-us-f-22s-escorting-jordanian-planes-over-syria-2015-2American F-22s are escorting Jordanian planes during airstrikes against ISIShttp://www.businessinsider.com/david-cenciotti-us-f-22s-escorting-jordanian-planes-over-syria-2015-2
Tue, 10 Feb 2015 13:37:00 -0500David Cenciotti
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static6.businessinsider.com/image/542339066bb3f7c610a849ab-1200-924/f-22-aircraft-2.jpg" border="0" alt="F-22 Aircraft"></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Last week the Pentagon provided some details about American support for the Jordanian airstrikes in Syria that followed the Islamic State group's killing of Jordanian <a href="http://theaviationist.com/2014/12/24/rjaf-f-16-downed-by-isis/">pilot Moaz al-Kasasbe</a>.</span></p>
<p>According to the <a href="http://www.airforcetimes.com/story/military/pentagon/2015/02/06/raptors-escort-jordanian-fighters-syria-airstrikes/22982311/">Air Force Times</a>, US Central Command Combined Air Operations Center (CAOC) tasked F-22 Raptors and F-16CJs, along with an unspecified unmanned aircraft that provided intelligence and surveillance, to escort the Jordanian aircraft launched against positions of the Islamic State, also known as ISIS or ISIL.</p>
<p>The American stealth jets are now embedded in the "standard strike package," which includes US and coalition aircraft committed to attack ISIS militants in Syria and Iraq, Pentagon spokesman Army Col. Steve Warren said.</p>
<p>The news put the spotlight on the F-22 Raptor and is a sign the US stealth jets are still directly involved in the anti-ISIS campaign in Syria and Iraq. Little was previously known about their contribution to Operation Inherent Resolve besides details that were released following their participation in the opening stages of the war.</p>
<p>More interesting than the US' use of the planes is figuring out the role played by the Raptors in the airstrikes and the value of their escort — the F-22 is the best air-superiority fighter in the world, but it will not find any aerial opponent to engage over Iraq or Syria.</p>
<p><img src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/54da4a9deab8ea7f75757751-960-640/rjaf-pilot.jpg" border="0" alt="Jordan Pilot Airstrikes" style="color: #000000;"><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Whereas Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD) and Electronic Warfare (EW) platforms, like the F-16CJ/CGs, the EA-6B Prowlers, and the EA-18G Growlers, are most likely taking care of the residual air defenses surrounding the most dangerous targets, the F-22 Raptors are probably used to provide the so-called "forward target identification."</span></p>
<p>Raptor stealth fighters can use their ability to enter a target area, gather details about enemy systems with their extremely advanced onboard sensors (including an Active Electronically Scanned Array — AESA radar), share the picture and enemy information with other tactical assets and AWACS, then escort other unstealthy planes or drones toward the targets.</p>
<p>They can also attack targets with <span>Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAMs)</span>&nbsp;if needed. F-22s can carry two 1,000-pound GBU-32 JDAMs or eight GBU-39 small-diameter bombs, 250-pound multipurpose, insensitive, penetrating, blast-fragmentation warhead for stationary targets, along with AIM-120s AMRAAMs (Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles) radar-guided missiles, and AIM-9 Sidewinder IR-guided missiles.</p>
<p>However, in modern scenarios as well as in Syria and Iraq, the fifth-generation aircraft is more an "electronic warfare enabled sensor-rich aircraft" than a pure interceptor with swing-role capabilities.</p><p><strong>SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/naval-head-stealth-may-be-overrated-2015-2" >A top US Navy top officer thinks that one of the F-35's most hyped capabilities is 'overrated'</a></strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/david-cenciotti-us-f-22s-escorting-jordanian-planes-over-syria-2015-2#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> <p>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/flying-car-aeromobil-flies-430-miles-2014-12">This Flying Car Is Real And It Can Fly 430 Miles On A Full Tank</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/separatists-we-conducted-airstrike-against-ukraine-2015-2Russian-backed rebels say they conducted their first airstrike against Ukrainehttp://www.businessinsider.com/separatists-we-conducted-airstrike-against-ukraine-2015-2
Thu, 05 Feb 2015 15:36:36 -0500Jacek Siminski
<p><em><strong><img src="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/54d3ac7beab8ea4d05836c99-800-400/su-25-ukaf-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Su 25 UkAF">Russian-backed separatists say that they have conducted their first air strike on Ukrainian forces.</strong></em></p>
<p>According to reports on several news outlets, including the Russian RIA-Novosti press agency, a Su-25 allegedly serving in the People’s Republic of Luhansk's aviation component attacked a Ukrainian Army convoy which was reinforcing the Ukrainian units surrounded in Delbatseve on Feb. 2.</p>
<p>The news, provided by the spokesperson of the People’s Republic of Luhansk, spread through social media even though Kiev authorities have not confirmed the air strike.&nbsp;</p>
<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Maybemaybenot?src=hash">#Maybemaybenot</a> - Su-25 of the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NAF?src=hash">#NAF</a> Air Force conducted a sortie near Debaltsevo, destroying 4 armoured vehicles &amp; 2 Kamaz trucks w/infantry.</p>
— Gleb Bazov (@gbazov) <a href="https://twitter.com/gbazov/status/562054965913337856">February 2, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script>
</center>
<p>The RIA Agency claims that the Su-25 was captured after the separatists damaged it and forced it to land within their territory. A video shot by separatists has popped up on Youtube recently: it shows a&nbsp;<a href="http://theaviationist.com/2014/07/25/su-25-shot-down-video/" title="[Video] Pro-Russia separatists shoot down Ukrainian Su-25, inspect wreckage">Su-25 Frogfoot attack plane</a>&nbsp;and an L-29 trainer wheeled out of the Luhansk aviation museum being repainted with the markings of the so-called Novorossiya Air Force and readied for flight ops.</p>
<p>The footage also shows a pilot who introduces himself as a Georgian volunteer who joined the pro-Russia militia fo fight fascism. In spite of the claims that the aircraft could reach Kiev and the scene of the jets carrying bombs and rocket launchers, it is almost impossible that a quite obsolete&nbsp;<a href="http://theaviationist.com/2013/06/23/some-awesome-russian-su-25-frogfoot-attack-plane-footage-including-a-crash/" title="Some awesome Russian Su-25 Frogfoot attack plane footage (including a crash…)">Su-25</a>&nbsp;or L-29 plane could be brought back to operational status and readied for combat missions.</p>
<center><iframe width="853" height="480" frameborder="0" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6wYgCaVzOuI"></iframe></center>
<p>Besides the propaganda purposes of the video, there is speculation that the Su-25s got a new paint and some media hype to act as a decoy for a direct involvement of Russian Air Force Frogfoot jets in the conflict. According to such speculation, Moscow’s Su-25s could freely operate in eastern Ukraine pretending to be some of the jets resuscitated at the Luhansk aviation museum and operated by the self-proclaimed NAF.</p>
<p>Furthermore, SputnikNews said that two Ukrainian Su-25s were shot down on Feb. 3 in the Delbatseve area, a report that has been denied by Kiev. Anyway, due to the large&nbsp;<a href="http://theaviationist.com/2014/12/02/analysis-of-ukrainian-air-force-losses-in-eastern-ukraine-clashes/" title="Analysis of Ukrainian Air Force Losses in eastern Ukraine clashes">extent of losses and the general bad shape of its fleet</a>, the Ukrainian Air Force's activities in the eastern part of the country have significantly decreased. According to some reports the Russians have created an umbrella of air defenses, which prevents the Ukrainians from flying over the territories controlled by the separatists.</p>
<p><em>Written with David Cenciotti</em></p><p><strong>SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/russian-backed-rebels-taking-over-eastern-ukraine-gif-2015-2" >Alarming GIF shows Russian-backed rebels slowly taking over eastern Ukraine</a></strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/separatists-we-conducted-airstrike-against-ukraine-2015-2#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> <p>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/flying-car-aeromobil-flies-430-miles-2014-12">This Flying Car Is Real And It Can Fly 430 Miles On A Full Tank</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/amazing-photos-of-a-us-marine-prowler-jet-refueling-over-afghanistan-2015-2Amazing photos of a US Marine Prowler jet refueling over Afghanistanhttp://www.businessinsider.com/amazing-photos-of-a-us-marine-prowler-jet-refueling-over-afghanistan-2015-2
Wed, 04 Feb 2015 07:32:00 -0500David Cenciotti
<p><span>Some of the 27 remaining U.S. Marine Corps&nbsp;</span>EA-6B Prowler jets<span>&nbsp;are currently deployed to conduct electronic air defense&nbsp;</span>over Afghanistan.</p>
<p><img src="http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/54d20d1e6da8118f36b59507-1200-800/close-up-cockpit-aar-ea-6b.jpg" border="0" alt="Close up cockpit AAR EA 6B"></p>
<h3>The EA-6Bs belong to the VMAQ-4, that deployed to Al Udeid, in Qatar, in August 2014.&nbsp;Since they arrived in Qatar, the Prowlers have launched missions to&nbsp;<a href="http://theaviationist.com/2014/10/06/cvw8-planes-aar-iraq/" title="[Photo] U.S. Navy’s Last EA-6B Prowlers and F/A-18C Legacy Hornets take fuel over Iraq">Syria and Iraq, as well as Afghanistan.</a></h3>
<p><img src="http://static6.businessinsider.com/image/54d20d6becad04f663ad0f99-1200-800/ea-6b-refuel-boomer-view.jpg" border="0" alt="EA 6B refuel boomer view"></p>
<h3>In spite of their age, the aircraft are still valuable platforms capable to support any contingencies or operations which may need kinetic electronic attack:&nbsp; they can spot and identify enemy signals, jam radar emissions and radio communications as well as gather intelligence and pin-point enemy forces on the ground.</h3>
<p><img src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/54d20dd66da811ee32b59509-1200-800/ea-6b-refuel-boom-view.jpg" border="0" alt="EA 6B refuel boom view"></p>
<h3>Still, the&nbsp;<a href="http://theaviationist.com/2014/10/06/cvw8-planes-aar-iraq/" title="[Photo] U.S. Navy’s Last EA-6B Prowlers and F/A-18C Legacy Hornets take fuel over Iraq">Prowler</a>&nbsp;will probably be the last EW (Electronic Warfare) dedicated aircraft in USMC inventory: the Marines plan to retire the Prowler and replace it with the radar-evading&nbsp;<a href="http://theaviationist.com/2014/11/28/f-35b-weapons-trials/" title="F-35B successfully completed initial tests with ASRAAM and Paveway IV weapons">F-35B</a>which will be able to perform some EW roles by means of its AESA (Active Electronic Scanner Array) radar, used as a directional jammer.</h3>
<p><img src="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/54d20e4569beddd343a2f932-1200-800/prowler-over-afghanistan.jpg" border="0" alt="Prowler over Afghanistan"></p>
<h3>In the meanwhile, the images in this post show some the Marine Corps Prowlers being refueled by a&nbsp;<a href="http://theaviationist.com/2014/09/07/unresponsive-plane-escorted/" title="F-16, F-15 jets and KC-135 tanker aircraft took part in escort mission of unresponsive plane crashed off Jamaica">U.S. Air Force KC-135</a>on their way to one of the daily missions over Afghanistan.</h3>
<p><img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/54d20ee1eab8ea263f89a692-1200-800/ea-6b-flares.jpg" border="0" alt="EA 6B flares"></p><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/amazing-photos-of-a-us-marine-prowler-jet-refueling-over-afghanistan-2015-2#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> <p>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/flying-car-aeromobil-flies-430-miles-2014-12">This Flying Car Is Real And It Can Fly 430 Miles On A Full Tank</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/f-18s-and-f-5s-created-a-no-fly-zone-for-davos-this-year-2015-2F-18s and F-5s Created A No-Fly Zone For Davos This Yearhttp://www.businessinsider.com/f-18s-and-f-5s-created-a-no-fly-zone-for-davos-this-year-2015-2
Mon, 02 Feb 2015 11:25:00 -0500David Cenciotti
<p>From Jan. 21 to 24, the Swiss Air Force contributed to the security of the&nbsp;<a href="http://theaviationist.com/2014/02/01/wef-2014-air-defense/" title="Davos’s World Economic Forum Air Defense">WEF international conference&nbsp;</a>held at Davos, in Switzerland.</p>
<h3>A circular No-Fly Zone, centered in Davos, with a radius of 25 nautical miles, was enforced by the Swiss F/A-18 Hornets of the Fliegerstaffel 11 and the F-5E Tigers of the Fliegerstaffel 8 from&nbsp;<a href="http://theaviationist.com/2013/01/29/wef-davos/" title="Eurofighter Typhoon, F/A-18 Hornet and F-5 Tiger jets supporting World Economic Forum 2013 security">Meiringen airbase</a>, main operating base of the air security operation.</h3>
<p><img src="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/54cfa19ceab8ea313d220096-743-496/wef-2015_1-706x471.jpg" border="0" alt="Wef 2015_1 706x471" width="743" height="496"></p>
<h3>Needless to say, all the aircraft taking part in the air policing missions carried live air-to-air missiles: the Tiger jets carried AIM-9P Sidewinder IR-guided AAM (Air-to-Air Missiles) at the wingtips, whereas the Hornets carried 2&nbsp;<a href="http://theaviationist.com/2012/04/24/f35a-aar-weapons/" title="Photo: F-35A completes first aerial refueling with inert AIM-9X, JDAM and AMRAAM weapons.">AIM-9X Sidewinders</a>at the wingtips and either two&nbsp;<a href="http://theaviationist.com/2013/06/07/f-35-aim-120/" title="[Photo] F-35 performs first AIM-120 missile launch">AIM-120 AMRAAM (Advanced Medium Range Air to Air Missiles)</a>&nbsp;or one AIM-120 and the ATFLIR (Advanced Targeting Forward Looking Infra Red) pod underneath the fuselage.</h3>
<p><img src="http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/54cfa1c66da811b85feecfab-706-471/wef-2015_8-706x471.jpg" border="0" alt="Wef 2015_8 706x471" width="743" height="496"></p>
<h3>Some of the Hornets had the text “STDY 121.5″ message on their centerline external fuel tank: a message to any intruder to switch to the international emergency frequency 121.5 MHz to get instructions from the interceptor and the air defense radar.</h3>
<p><img src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/54cfa1ec6da811295eeecfb7-706-471/wef-2015_5-706x471.jpg" border="0" alt="Wef 2015_5 706x471" width="743" height="496"></p>
<h3>Many F-5Es sported the former&nbsp;<a href="http://theaviationist.com/2011/10/09/patrouille-suisse/" title="Formation aerobatics from inside the cockpit: fly on the F-5E Tiger II of the leader of the Patrouille Suisse">Patrouille Suisse color scheme.</a></h3>
<p><img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/54cfa20f69bedd7c21b93c44-706-471/wef-2015_3-706x471.jpg" border="0" alt="Wef 2015_3 706x471" width="740" height="494"></p>
<p><img src="http://static6.businessinsider.com/image/54cfa22d69bedd7521b93c40-706-471/wef-2015_9-706x471.jpg" border="0" alt="Wef 2015_9 706x471" width="742" height="495"><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><br></span></p>
<p><span><img src="http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/54cfa24869bedd8421b93c3f-706-471/wef-2015_11-706x471.jpg" border="0" alt="Wef 2015_11 706x471" width="746" height="498"></span><em style="line-height: 1.5em;">The images in this post were taken at&nbsp;<a href="http://theaviationist.com/2010/10/21/axalp-2010/" title="Axalp 2010">Meiringen</a>&nbsp;by The Aviationist’s contributor Alessandro Fucito.</em></p><p><strong>SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/china-stole-information-about-f35-from-australia-2015-1" >Chinese Spies Reportedly Stole Information About The New F35 Fighter Jet From The Australia Air Force</a></strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/f-18s-and-f-5s-created-a-no-fly-zone-for-davos-this-year-2015-2#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/david-cenciotti-pictures-of-the-f-35-during-all-weather-testing-2015-1Amazing shots of the F-35 during intense all-weather testinghttp://www.businessinsider.com/david-cenciotti-pictures-of-the-f-35-during-all-weather-testing-2015-1
Fri, 30 Jan 2015 10:04:33 -0500David Cenciotti
<p><em><strong><img src="http://static5.businessinsider.com/image/54cb9a3aecad04145539c03c-800-640/f-35-climate-test_3a-1.jpg" border="0" alt="F 35 Climate Test_3a 1"></strong></em><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">An </span><a href="http://theaviationist.com/2013/06/28/f-35-refuels-from-kc-10/" title="[Photo] F-35B head-on during aerial refueling from a KC-10">F-35B, a Short Take Off Vertical Landing (STOVL) variant</a><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"> of the Joint Strike Fighter jet, has undergone extreme weather testing at the Air Force 96th Test Wing’s McKinley Climatic Laboratory located at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida according to a release by Lockheed Martin.</span></p>
<p>The testing is meant to validate the capability of the plane to operate in the meteorological conditions representative of all the locations from which the aircraft is going to operate: from the Australian Outback and the US deserts to the Arctic Circle above Canada and Norway.</p>
<p>The <a href="http://theaviationist.com/2014/11/28/f-35b-weapons-trials/" title="F-35B successfully completed initial tests with ASRAAM and Paveway IV weapons">F-35B</a> has been ferried to Eglin AFB in September 2014 and it is expected to remain at the airbase in Florida until March 2015. The plane will undergo a six-month assessment of the <a href="http://theaviationist.com/2014/02/27/uk-pilot-f35b-first/" title="[Photo] First F-35B short take-off and vertical landing sortie by British pilot at Eglin">Joint Strike Fighter</a>’s performance in wind, solar radiation, fog, humidity, rain intrusion/ingestion, freezing rain, icing cloud, icing build-up, vortex icing and snow.</p>
<p><img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/54cb97f8eab8ea020c8790ac-1024-819/f-35-climate-test_1a.jpg" border="0" alt="F 35 Climate Test_1a"></p>
<p>According to F-35 test pilot Billie Flynn, the aircraft is being pushed to its environmental limits, ranging from 120 degrees to -40 degrees Fahrenheit (49 to – 40 degrees Celsius). So far it has met expectations.</p>
<p><img src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/54cb9811eab8ea4e108790ac-1024-819/f-35-climate-test_2a.jpg" border="0" alt="F 35 Climate Test_2a"></p>
<p>The news comes a few weeks after <a href="http://theaviationist.com/2014/12/10/luke-afb-fuel-trucks/" title="Fuel Trucks for the F-35 Painted White to keep the Jet Fuel Cool (and prevent engine shutdowns)">an Air Force press release</a> reported that fuel trucks at Luke Air Force Base, in Arizona, where temperature can reach beyond 110° F (43° C) in summer months, were given a new look, by applying a two layer coating called “solar polyurethane enamel” in order to prevent fuel stored in the tanks from over-heating.</p>
<p>The Lightning II engine has a fuel temperature threshold and may suffer shutdowns if the fuel is delivered to it at high temperature.</p><p><strong>SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/the-f-35-just-hit-another-snag-2015-1" >The F-35 just hit another snag</a></strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/david-cenciotti-pictures-of-the-f-35-during-all-weather-testing-2015-1#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/greek-f-16-has-crashed-at-an-airbase-in-spain-2015-110 People Killed After A Greek F-16 Crashed At An Airbase In Spainhttp://www.businessinsider.com/greek-f-16-has-crashed-at-an-airbase-in-spain-2015-1
Mon, 26 Jan 2015 12:53:37 -0500
<p><em><strong>Photos from Albacete airbase, in Spain, show a fire on the flight line.</strong></em></p>
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<p><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Latest?src=hash">#Latest</a> Greek F-16 crashes at Albacete air base (Spain). Home of the Tactical Leadership Program (TLP) when take off <a href="http://t.co/u5IoKnKdeZ">pic.twitter.com/u5IoKnKdeZ</a></p>
— AircraftTalking (@AircraftTalking) <a href="https://twitter.com/AircraftTalking/status/559739295360364545">January 26, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<p>Accidente en la base aérea de Los Llanos, en Albacete. Parece ser q se ha estrellado un F16 griego. <a href="http://t.co/eXHZVZ8pN7">pic.twitter.com/eXHZVZ8pN7</a></p>
— Ángeles Moya (@mangelesmoya) <a href="https://twitter.com/mangelesmoya/status/559737902251642880">January 26, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<p>According to reports coming from Albacete airbase, home of the Tactical Leadership Program, an F-16 belonging to the <a href="http://theaviationist.com/2014/07/08/hellenic-air-force-strike-ex/" title="More than 100 Greek warplanes (including last A-7E Corsair jets) conduct live firing exercise">Hellenic Air Force</a> has crashed on take off.</p>
<p>Photos emerging on social networks seem to suggest the aircraft may have hit the flight line: two <a href="http://theaviationist.com/2013/06/05/amx-200k/" title="Italian AMX fighter bomber fleet reaches 200,000 flying hours">Italian Air Force AMX</a> jets seem to be quite close to the burning wreckage of the <a href="http://theaviationist.com/2013/11/12/f-16-flare-close-up/" title="This cool image shows what an F-16 flare cartridge looks like moments after being ejected">Greek F-16</a>. However, more aircraft are believed to be involved, since several explosions were heard following the impact of the HAF fighter jet.</p>
<p>Spanish media outlets have been issuing updates since the incident occurred around 3.00 PM LT: <a href="https://twitter.com/AP/status/559767621823131648">according to the latest reports,</a>&nbsp;10 people were killed&nbsp;as a consequence of the crash.</p><p><strong>SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/pilot-ditching-plane-close-to-hawaii-video-2015-1" >Amazing footage of a pilot successfully ditching a plane 253 miles off from Hawaii</a></strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/greek-f-16-has-crashed-at-an-airbase-in-spain-2015-1#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/russian-jet-intercept-portuguese-plane-video-2015-1Watch A Russian Jet Intercept A Portuguese Surveillance Planehttp://www.businessinsider.com/russian-jet-intercept-portuguese-plane-video-2015-1
Fri, 23 Jan 2015 16:31:00 -0500David Cenciotti
<p><em><strong><img src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/54c2abe26bb3f7a1458045e8-800-400/russian-su-27-flanker.png" border="0" alt="Russian Su-27 Flanker"></strong></em><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">The following footage is quite unique: It shows a single </span><a href="http://theaviationist.com/2014/10/02/su-27-intercept-swedish-elint-plane/" title="Russian Su-27 Flanker performs dangerous intercept putting itself within 10 meters of Swedish ELINT plane">Russian Air Force Su-27 Flanker jet</a><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"> as it intercepts and shadows a P-3 Orion, reportedly flying over the Baltics.</span></p>
<p>According to the source who sent it to us, the unclassified video was filmed in November 2014 by “one of the sensors carried by a <a href="http://theaviationist.com/2015/01/14/baltic-air-policing-photo-session/" title="Have A Look At These Unique Photos Showing Baltic Air Policing Jets (Flying With Live Missiles)">Portuguese Air Force</a> P-3 Orion MPA – Maritime Patrol Aircraft – during a mission over the Baltic Sea.”</p>
<p>The clip clearly shows the fully armed Russian Su-27 approach the surveillance plane from the starboard side (<a href="http://theaviationist.com/2014/10/02/su-27-intercept-swedish-elint-plane/" title="Russian Su-27 Flanker performs dangerous intercept putting itself within 10 meters of Swedish ELINT plane">at safe distance</a>), use the air brake to slow down, and then break away.</p>
<p>According to our source, it’s pretty standard for the Russian Air Force to launch a single fighter jet to identify and escort NATO surveillance planes.</p>
<p><img src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/54c2ad1969bedd562e8a4b0d/su-27 interception.gif" border="0" alt="SU 27 interception"></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">As reported a few weeks ago,&nbsp;</span><a href="http://theaviationist.com/2014/10/22/il-20-coot-intercepted-twice/" title="NATO jets, including Canadian Hornets, scrambled twice in two days to intercept Russian spyplane">Russian Air Force spy planes skirting foreign airspaces</a><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"> are frequently </span><a href="http://theaviationist.com/2014/06/18/typhoon-intercept-su-27/" title="Awesome photo of British Typhoon intercepting fully armed Russian Su-27 over the Baltics">intercepted by NATO aircraft.</a><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">&nbsp;This video proves that even the Russians keep an eye on NATO, as well as&nbsp;</span><a href="http://theaviationist.com/2014/11/24/swedish-spyplane-flies-off-kaliningrad/" title="Swedish Spyplane “caught” flying off Russia’s Kaliningrad Oblast">non-NATO states' surveillance- and intelligence-gathering activities in the region</a><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">.</span></p>
<p>The Portuguese Air Force operates a fleet of P-3 Orion aircraft within the 601 Squadron “<em>Lobos</em>” (<em>Esquadra 601</em>), a maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare squadron based at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beja_Air_Base" title="Beja Air Base" class="mw-redirect">Beja Air Base</a>.</p>
<p>The video is below.&nbsp;</p>
<p><iframe width="800" height="550" frameborder="0" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/RN8OoefnUPM"></iframe></p><p><strong>SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/russia-reinforcing-geopolitical-frontlines-2015-1" >Russia's military has 3 priorities</a></strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/russian-jet-intercept-portuguese-plane-video-2015-1#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/david-cenciotti-f-5-performing-an-ultra-low-level-flyby-2015-1Amazing Video Shows An F-5 Performing An Ultra Low Level Flybyhttp://www.businessinsider.com/david-cenciotti-f-5-performing-an-ultra-low-level-flyby-2015-1
Thu, 22 Jan 2015 09:10:59 -0500David Cenciotti
<p><em><strong>This is probably the coolest way to trim your trees.</strong></em></p>
<p>The video in this post was filmed at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Mombasa (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moi_International_Airport" title="Moi International Airport">Moi International Airport</a>), one of the airbases in Kenya.<img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/54c102b769bedd95099135d0/tiger ultra low pass.gif" border="0" alt="Tiger ultra low pass"></p>
<p>It shows two F-5E Tiger II of the Kenyan Air Force performing an <a href="http://theaviationist.com/2014/05/08/russian-su-24-fencers-flyby/" title="Here’s the latest ultra-low level Russian Su-24 Fencer flyby">ultra-low level pass</a> on a one-story building in Mombasa, with the effect of removing branches from the trees surrounding it.</p>
<p>The KAF is equipped with about 20 F-5E and F-5F (two-seat version) Tigers, some of which were formerly operated with the Royal Jordanian Air Force before being upgraded to F-5EM standard and delivered to Kenya.</p>
<p>The Kenyan Air Force uses the F-5 fighter jets in an air-to-surface role, carrying rockets and unguided bombs used to carry out <a href="http://www.kahawatungu.com/2014/12/05/kenya-airforce-pilot-jonathan-otongo-missing-somalia-f-5-jet-crashed/">attacks on Somali extremists.</a></p>
<center><iframe width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/QnvVDjgfX4M"></iframe></center><p><strong>SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/fighter-pilot-video-2014-4" >Navy fighter pilots made this awesome GoPro video of their supersonic maneuvers</a></strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/david-cenciotti-f-5-performing-an-ultra-low-level-flyby-2015-1#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/us-a-10-warthog-planes-in-iraq-reportedly-shot-at-by-isis-militants-with-manpads-2015-1US A-10 'Warthog' Planes In Iraq Reportedly Shot At By ISIS Militants With MANPADShttp://www.businessinsider.com/us-a-10-warthog-planes-in-iraq-reportedly-shot-at-by-isis-militants-with-manpads-2015-1
Mon, 19 Jan 2015 09:12:00 -0500David Cenciotti
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/530cba38eab8ea85282de3ec-1200-800/usaf_a-10_thunderbolt_ii_after_taking_on_fuel_over_afghanistan.jpg" border="0" alt="A-10 Warthog in Afghanistan"></p><p>According to a report by&nbsp;<a href="http://theaviationist.com/2015/01/19/a-10-strela-iraq/www.defenseworld.net/news/11935/ISIS_Attacks_USAF___s_A_10_Warthog_Aircraft_With_Strela_Missiles__Iraqi_News#.VLvqMieKvj5">Iraqi News</a>, American A-10 were shot at with four Strela missiles during the recent air strikes carried out by the Warthogs (as the Thunderbolts are referred to by the pilot community) on ISIS positions near Mosul, in Iraq.</p>
<p>Based on reports by unnamed sources who witnessed the attack, the A-10s killed and wounded several terrorists but were also targeted by the ISIS militants who allegedly attempted to shoot down the U.S. planes fling at low altitude using&nbsp;<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strela_2" target="_blank" title="Strela 2" class="zem_slink" rel="wikipedia">9K32 Strela-2</a>&nbsp;(NATO reporting name SA-7 Grail) man-portable, shoulder-fired, low-altitude, IR (infra-red) guided, surface-to-air missile systems.</p>
<p>Even though the Warthogs were not hit by the surface-to-air missiles, the episode seems to confirm that, flying at&nbsp;<a href="http://theaviationist.com/2014/12/07/video-shows-a-10-iraq/" title="Video of A-10 attacking ISIS targets in Iraq emerges">medium and low altitude and loitering over the battlefield</a>, the&nbsp;<a href="http://theaviationist.com/2014/12/20/usaf-a-10s-appear-in-videos-showing-kurdish-fighters-breaking-isis-siege-of-mount-sinjar-in-iraq/" title="USAF A-10s appear in videos showing Kurdish fighters breaking ISIS siege of Mount Sinjar in Iraq">A-10s deployed to Kuwait</a>&nbsp;face the threat of MANPADS known to be in possession of Islamic State forces.</p>
<p>Still, the “Hog” is a tough plane, that has already shown its special ability to bring the pilot back to the homebase&nbsp;<a href="http://www.aircraftresourcecenter.com/Stories1/001-100/0016_A-10-battle-damage/story0016.htm">in spite of heavy damages by ground fire.</a></p>
<p><em>Image credit: U.S. Air Force</em></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/us-a-10-warthog-planes-in-iraq-reportedly-shot-at-by-isis-militants-with-manpads-2015-1#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/the-last-piston-engine-plane-to-shoot-down-a-fighter-jet-2015-1The Story Of The Last Piston-Engine Us Plane To Shoot Down An Enemy Fighter Jethttp://www.businessinsider.com/the-last-piston-engine-plane-to-shoot-down-a-fighter-jet-2015-1
Wed, 14 Jan 2015 10:46:00 -0500Dario Leone
<p style="float:right;"><img style="float:right;" src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/54b6892becad04f72a328030-1200-858/skyraider%201966%20propeller%20plane%20vietnam.jpg" border="0" alt="Skyraider 1966 Propeller Plane Vietnam"></p><p></p>
<p><a href="http://theaviationist.com/2013/11/26/e-2-high-swells/">The last propeller US Navy attack aircraft</a><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5em;"> to disappear from the decks of the </span><a href="http://theaviationist.com/tag/f-4-phantom/">flattops</a><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5em;"> was the Douglas AD Skyraider.</span></p>
<p>This airplane had a unique capability: even when it carried its full internal fuel of 2,280 pounds, a 2,200-lb torpedo, two 2,000-lb bombs, 12 5-inch rockets, two 20 mm guns and 240 pounds of ammunition, the Skyraider was still under its maximum gross weight of 25,000 pounds.</p>
<p>Entered in service just in time to take part in the Korean War, the Skyraiders in the improved A-1H version were quite slow. The propeller-driven attack aircraft still managed to shoot down two MiG-17s during the early part of the Vietnam War.</p>
<p>In fact, some of the most unusual kills of the conflict did not come from the <a href="http://theaviationist.com/2013/06/24/iaf-f-4-vs-nk-mig21/">F-4s</a>, F-105s, or <a href="http://theaviationist.com/2014/02/19/us-navy-fighters-folded-wings/">F-8s</a>, but from the Korean War-era piston-engine Skyraiders thanks to the plane's 4 M3 20mm fixed forward-firing cannons, capable of firing 800 rounds per minutes.</p>
<p>The first of these victorious engagements took place on Jun. 20, 1965, when a flight of Skyraiders from the Strike Squadron 25 (VA-25), the "Fist of the Fleet," took off from the USS Midway (CVA-41). They were supporting the rescue of a downed <a href="http://theaviationist.com/2014/09/08/f-15e-over-iraq/">USAF</a> pilot in the northwest corner of North Vietnam and were attacked by a flight of MiG-17s.</p>
<p><img src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/54b68a98ecad04672b328032-800-535/mig 17 vietnam circa 1972.jpg" border="0" alt="MiG 17 Vietnam circa 1972">The two enemy jets launched missiles and fired with their cannons against the two A-1Hs. But both Skyraider pilots, Lt. Charles W. Hartman III, and Lt. Clinton B. Johnson, evaded them and maneuvered to shoot down one of the MiGs with their <a href="http://theaviationist.com/2014/08/18/the-story-of-a-legendary-f-14-pilot-and-the-gun-kill-on-an-f-15-that-could-sell-tomcat-to-japan/">20 mm cannons</a>.</p>
<p>Lt. Johnson described this engagement in Donald J. McCarthy, Jr. book “<a href="http://www.amazon.com/MiG-Killers-Chronology-Victories-1965-1973/dp/1580071368">MiG Killers: A Chronology of US Air Victories in Vietnam 1965-1973</a>” as follows: “I fired a short burst at the MiG and missed, but got the MiG pilot’s attention. He turned into us, making a head-on pass. Charlie and I fired simultaneously as he passed so close that Charlie thought I had hit his vertical stabilizer with the tip of my tail hook. Both of us fired all four guns. Charlie’s rounds appeared to go down the intake and into the wing root, and mine along the top of the fuselage and through the canopy. He never returned our fire, rolled, inverted, and hit a small hill, exploding and burning in a farm field.”</p>
<p>The subsequent <a href="http://theaviationist.com/2014/01/29/f15-vs-mig-23/">MiG kill</a> of this engagement was shared by both Hartmann III and Johnson.</p>
<p><img class="full" src="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/54b685f1ecad04781732803e-800-530/douglas skyraider flies over carrier midway 1972 vietnam gulf tonkin.jpg" border="0" alt="Douglas Skyraider flies over Carrier Midway 1972 Vietnam Gulf Tonkin">The second victory of the propeller-driven Skyraider against a&nbsp; North Vietnamese MiG-17 jet fighter took place on Oct. 9, 1966 and involved four A-1Hs launched from the deck of the USS Intrepid (CV-11) in the Gulf of Tonkin flying as “Papoose flight.”</p>
<p>The flight was from the <a href="http://theaviationist.com/2012/10/25/tomcat-vs-zero/">Strike Squadron</a> 176 (VA-176) Thunderbolts and it was led by Lt. Cdr. Leo Cook, with Lt. Wiley as wingman, while the second section was led by Lt. Peter Russell with Lt. William T. Patton as wingman.</p>
<p>It was during the RESCAP (the REScue Combat Air Patrol, a mission flown to protect the downed pilots from ground threats) flight, that the “Spads” (as the Skyraiders were dubbed by their pilots) were attacked by four MiG-17s. This engagement ended with one Fresco confirmed as being shot down, a second as probably shot down, and a third heavily damaged.</p>
<p>According to McCarthy, the MiG-17 kill was awarded to “Papoose 409,” the A-1H BuNo 137543, flown by Lt. Patton who,&nbsp;after having&nbsp;gained a position of advantage on one of the MiGs, opened fire with his four guns, hitting the tail section of the enemy jet. Patton followed the MiG which descended through the cloud deck and when Papoose 409 emerged from the clouds he spotted the enemy pilot’s parachute.</p>
<p>The US Navy Skyraiders last combat tour took place from July 1967 to 1968 onboard USS Coral Sea (CV-43). But this versatile propeller aircraft continued to fly with the US Air Force and with the Vietnamese Air Force until the end of the conflict thanks to its unparalleled capabilities in close air support.</p><p><strong>SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/hagel-wants-to-replace-the-b-2-bomber-2015-1" >Hagel wants to replace the B-2 with a new strategic bomber</a></strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/the-last-piston-engine-plane-to-shoot-down-a-fighter-jet-2015-1#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/france-to-deploy-aircraft-carrier-in-persian-gulf-2015-1France Is Deploying An Aircraft Carrier To The Persian Gulf To Join The Anti-ISIS Campaignhttp://www.businessinsider.com/france-to-deploy-aircraft-carrier-in-persian-gulf-2015-1
Thu, 08 Jan 2015 10:47:30 -0500David Cenciotti
<p><img class="full" src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/54ae9b8eecad04083ac27142-1200-800/french charles de gaulle aircraft carrier.jpg" border="0" alt="French Charles De Gaulle aircraft carrier"></p><p>France decided to deploy the Charles De Gaulle aircraft carrier just prior tro the terrorist attack on French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo which claimed 12 victims.</p>
<p>The <a href="http://theaviationist.com/2015/01/06/flight-deck-charles-de-gaulle/" title="GoPro footage of French Aircraft Carrier Flight Deck Operations">Charles De Gaulle</a>&nbsp;will deploy to the Persian Gulf to strengthen the French contingent already fighting ISIS in the region, <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/france-deploy-aircraft-carrier-gulf-fight-170259457.html">Agence France Press news agency reported on Jan. 6</a>.</p>
<p>The news that the <a href="http://theaviationist.com/2013/12/02/charles-de-gaulle-slowmotion/" title="This crazy video shows flight ops aboard French nuclear-powered aircraft carrier in slow motion!">38,000-ton nuclear-powered aircraft carrier</a> would join the <a href="http://theaviationist.com/2014/12/20/usaf-a-10s-appear-in-videos-showing-kurdish-fighters-breaking-isis-siege-of-mount-sinjar-in-iraq/" title="USAF A-10s appear in videos showing Kurdish fighters breaking ISIS siege of Mount Sinjar in Iraq">war on Islamic State</a> widely spread through social media on Jan. 7, after the Paris shooting. But the decision to deploy the battle group was taken well before the deadly attack on Charlie Hebdo.</p>
<p>According to AFP, the aircraft carrier would operate in the Gulf on its way to India, where the French Navy’s flagship is scheduled to take part in drills in mid-April. The deployment is set to be announced by President Francois Hollande on Jan. 14, during the annual New Year’s speech to the armed forces.</p>
<p>French Navy Dassault-Breguet Super Étendard, <a href="http://theaviationist.com/2014/09/20/video-french-strike-iraq/" target="_blank" title="Video shows French air strike in Iraq from launch to recovery, including aerial refueling">Dassault Rafale M</a> and E‑2C Hawkeye aircraft operating from the Charles De Gaulle would reinforce the current French contingent of 9 Rafale, 6 Mirage 2000 jets, 1 C-135FR tanker, 1 E-3F Airborne Early Warning aircraft and an <a href="http://theaviationist.com/2013/04/30/atl2-lgb/" target="_blank" title="[Photo] French Atlantique maritime patrol aircraft sporting Laser Guided Bomb markings (from Mali Air War)">Atlantique 2 maritime patrol aircraft</a> already deployed <a href="http://theaviationist.com/2014/09/19/photo-rafale-multi-role-combat-planes-conduct-first-french-air-strike-in-iraq/" target="_blank" title="[Photo] Rafale multi-role combat planes conduct first French air strike in Iraq">to airbases in UAE</a> and Jordan.</p><p><strong>SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/david-cenciotti-flight-deck-operations-on-french-aircraft-carrier-2015-1" >Stunning footage shows flight-deck operations onboard a French aircraft carrier</a></strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/france-to-deploy-aircraft-carrier-in-persian-gulf-2015-1#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/david-cenciotti-flight-deck-operations-on-french-aircraft-carrier-2015-1Stunning Footage Shows Flight Deck Operations Aboard A French Aircraft Carrierhttp://www.businessinsider.com/david-cenciotti-flight-deck-operations-on-french-aircraft-carrier-2015-1
Wed, 07 Jan 2015 10:15:57 -0500David Cenciotti
<p><em><strong><img src="http://static6.businessinsider.com/image/54ad49826bb3f70a05ba7175-850-425/charles-de-gaulle-aircraft-carrier-french.png" border="0" alt="Charles De Gaulle Aircraft Carrier French"></strong></em></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">A few days ago we posted interesting footage, filmed with GoPro cameras, that showed launches and recoveries from the </span><a href="http://theaviationist.com/2014/12/31/catapult-launch-from-petty-officer-pov/" title="This GoPro video will bring you the closest as you can get to the flight deck of a U.S. aircraft carrier during catapult launches">Catapult Topside Petty Officer point of view</a><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"> from a aircraft carrier.</span></p>
<p>After reading our article, many readers pointed us to the video below, which shows, more or less, the same kind of operations aboard the 38,000 ton, nuclear-powered <a href="http://theaviationist.com/2013/12/02/charles-de-gaulle-slowmotion/" title="This crazy video shows flight ops aboard French nuclear-powered aircraft carrier in slow motion!">aircraft carrier Charles De Gaulle.</a></p>
<p><a href="http://theaviationist.com/2013/12/02/charles-de-gaulle-slowmotion/" title="This crazy video shows flight ops aboard French nuclear-powered aircraft carrier in slow motion!"><img src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/54ad4a2b6da8113362c7df71/aircraft launch 2.gif" border="0" alt="aircraft launch carrier "></a></p>
<p>The clip lets you observe blue water operations of French Navy Dassault-Breguet Super Étendard, <a href="http://theaviationist.com/2012/01/02/rafale-night/" target="_blank" title="Landing a Rafale an aircraft carrier. At night. A video shows why a night trap is the scariest and most demanding kind of flying.">Dassault Rafale M</a>,&nbsp;and E‑2C Hawkeye aircraft from the privileged eye of flight deck operators.</p>
<p><img src="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/54ad4a48eab8ea855eaff2bf/aircraft launch.gif" border="0" alt="aircraft launch carrier pilot view"></p>
<p>Both the French and American aircraft carriers use the same kind of catapult (even though the French Navy’s Super Étendards are launched with a wire attached to the bottom of the fuselage instead of a <a href="http://science.howstuffworks.com/aircraft-carrier3.htm">cat shuttle</a> attached to the nose gear).</p>
<p><img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/54ad4a5a6bb3f77206ba7177/spy plane landing.gif" border="0" alt="aircraft carrier landing"></p>
<p>That’s why, in the past,&nbsp;French Rafale combat planes <a href="http://theaviationist.com/2014/01/15/rafale-operate-uss-truman/" target="_blank" title="French Rafale fighter jets operate from U.S. aircraft carrier">have operated</a> from the USS Truman<a href="http://theaviationist.com/2014/01/15/rafale-operate-uss-truman/" target="_blank" title="French Rafale fighter jets operate from U.S. aircraft carrier"> </a>and F/A-18E Super Hornets <a href="http://theaviationist.com/2014/01/20/hornet-on-french-carrier/" title="[Photo] U.S. F/A-18E Hornet operates from French Aircraft Carrier">have operated</a> from the US flattop — thus demonstrating interoperability between <a href="http://theaviationist.com/2014/01/08/cavour-truman-de-gaulle/" target="_blank" title="Three aircraft carriers, belonging to three different navies, work together">allied navies</a>.</p>
<p>The video is below.</p>
<center><iframe width="800" height="450" frameborder="0" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/oo_vTqdIZbw"></iframe></center><p><strong>SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/stunning-gopro-footage-brings-you-aboard-an-aircraft-carrier-during-fighter-launches-2014-12" >Stunning GoPro footage brings you aboard an aircraft carrier during fighter launches</a></strong></p>
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